Brainfreeze: Comic Love

I want it now. Apparently.

2011-10-24T23:19:00.000-04:00

I've learned something about myself over the last few days.

And that is that same-day digital is a very good way to (theoretically) separate me from my money.

I say "theoretically" because, well, not too many comics are same-day digital. I went online looking, thinking I'd give Captain America and Bucky a look (you know, and then buy the trade as planned whenever it comes out). Maybe the newer Avengers stuff too. But it's not there. So I didn't.

Here is something else I've learned about myself. I am not willing to wait a month for a 1/3 reduction in cost. I know this because I've paid full price for DC Digital despite knowing the price would drop from $2.99 to $1.99 in really-not-all-that-long-in-the-grand-scheme-of-things.

Hear that, marketing folks? And this is someone who is mainly a trade-waiter these days. Immediate gratification trumps all.

Where do I go to figure this stuff out?

2011-10-20T17:38:00.000-04:00

Now I will freely admit that I've only read two of DC's "New 52" so far and they've both been Red Hood and the Outlaws. Because I am shameless and I like all three characters, and I'm curious. Otherwise, waiting for the trade. And, you know, sneaking a peek at spoilers and reviews here and there.

But I have a few questions anyway.

Did Kyle Rayner still used to go out with Donna Troy?

Did Starfire still spend all that time hanging out with Animal Man and his family?

How about the events of Countdown? In? Out?

How about Catwoman's baby?

Roy in RHatO is definitely different; I'm wondering whether there are plans down the road to bring back Lian in order to redo that whole "fatherhood turns Roy into a better man" thing.

One thing that makes me sad is the whole "Earth folks don't trust aliens" thing. Because that was actually one thing I enjoyed about the DC universe--that the people were kind of open to that sort of thing.

My first foray into e-comics

2011-10-17T18:42:00.003-04:00

So now I've tried out DC's electronic comic books.

It was issue 1 of Red Hood and the Outlaws.

Don't judge me.

I'll probably get the next one, since I like all the characters well enough to give the title a while for the rough edges to smooth out.

But mainly I'm here to talk about the format.

Yes, it's hard to get used to. I'm using an oldish Acer Aspire running Windows 7, and I keep my screen resolution at 1366 X 768. If my screen were a little taller I might find it a bit easier to read without mad scrolling skills, but I can increase image size, and that is a big plus. These days I am having a harder time reading even a regular old on-paper comic book if the text is, say, red on black. I've taken to getting some of my trades as hardbacks because they tend to be a bit bigger and that can make a difference. Now, I don't know that my eyes are going to get worse to the point where even that won't help. But if they do, the electronic comics will be a real eyesaver.

Yes, I know that the aging comic fan with fading eyesight isn't the primary audience for electronic comics. But I'll tell you right now that it is something that will make it possible for us old folks to read comics for much, much longer.

Me and the Legion: An Exercise in Avoiding Fan Entitlement

2011-06-25T17:51:00.003-04:00

Now that I've tried to balance my happiness at a Jason Todd ongoing with my sadness at the loss of Secret Six, I can turn my attention to my first connection with the DC universe--the Legion of Superheroes.

I first read it in the sixties when I was very, very young. Curt Swan on art. Brainiac 5, whose power was that he was smart. And Saturn Girl, who I still think of as one of the best comic-book role models ever for young women.

I read it in the seventies. In fact, I used to read it in study hall in high school in the later seventies. And I read it in the eighties. The Legion were adults now, for the most part, and by then I was as well. They married, even had children. Being removed from present-time continuity seemed to free them to age in a way that contemporary titles perhaps couldn't. (I suppose the "having children" thing would have led to trouble of that sort eventually.)

I read it into the early nineties. The "Five Years Later" storyline? Enjoyed that immensely. Really liked the relationship between Light Lass and Shrinking Violet. And I loved it when there were two Legion books going at once. Loved it. I got them both. I cared more about the one with the older, original Legion, but I read both.

Then the books stopped in '94, and of course I stopped reading them. (This was also Insane Nineties Time at Marvel, so in fact I gave up comics altogether for ten years or so.) I tried the reboot, with the new codenames and adjusted origins, and while it was a decent book, it just wasn't "my" Legion, the one I'd grown up with. I'm not being critical of it on that point, just saying that after a 25-or-so-year relationship with the original LSH, I just couldn't really get into the new book. I don't always connect to characters like that, but in this case I did, and reading the new stories with the similar-but-different characters just felt sort of pointless. (Yes, I know I'm saying I'm "that" sort of fan. I'm not always. But with the Legion, I guess I am.)

I did read a few issues of the newest version, the one with Supergirl, because my elder daughter wanted to get them. She didn't like it much, so we didn't continue with it.

Therefore I really quite liked the Lightning Saga when it came out, and the Legion of Three Worlds, and so forth. I had been kindasorta hoping for more of them, but it seems unlikely at this point. Of course if DC ever decides to give "my" Legion their own book, I am there--floppy, digital, and trade!

Buying comics in real life, or trying to

2011-06-22T20:30:00.003-04:00

So every year or two, we leave our small town to visit relatives in The City. On these visits, we also try to do some shopping that we can't easily do at home. This includes bargain shopping for the kids (accompanied by hopes that they don't grow any before school starts in a few months). It also usually includes trips to two or more comic book shops.

Today was to be comic-book-shop day, so we took off and drove to one of our favorite stops.

Closed. I got out to look at the door, and it said--specifically--"Closed, not reopening." That's too bad, they were one of the few places I've seen in recent years that kept a large selection of back issues in longboxes. Kindly, it also included a recommendation for another comic shop to try ("the closest, and the best" said the sign). This shop was also on our list, so we went there next.

Closed. No sign.

If we'd been less fixated on comic books, we might have given up then.

However, we instead found a phone book, called the second shop, and were given the new address a few blocks away. Much bigger store, and I picked up a few things. I suspect it's one of those shops where some folks would feel ignored--a group of regulars was gathered around the register chatting, etc. Luckily, as a comic reader of 40+ years, I'm not shy about barging in on that sort of thing, and they were perfectly friendly once I had. (The fact that I take the position of "Age is Strength!" doesn't hurt either.) They didn't have what I was looking for in particular, though. (It was the trade of Red Hood: Lost Days, if you must know!)

So we made one more stop, where I found what I wanted and more besides. Nice shop, very customer-friendly.

Today's lesson, then, is that if you're a comic shop and you've moved, don't assume that because your regulars still know where you are, you're not losing any money. I'm sure I'm not the only one who--when visiting a city--makes a point of checking out the comic shops. And even if I'm only there once a year, I might be spending some bucks--in fact, because I'm only there once a year, I'm likely to be spending some bucks. Don't make it hard for me to find you!

Final (yeah right) reboot thoughts

2011-06-10T14:21:00.004-04:00

I am a character-driven comic book fan. Not in the sense that I'm a fan of character-driven comics (though I suppose that could be true as well) but in the sense that it's the characters that drive my interest in a book.

This is probably why, historically (and when you're my age you do get to use the word "historically" when describing your life) I've always preferred group books. From Fantastic Four to Avengers to Legion of Super-Heroes to X-Men, the majority of the comics I picked up every month were group titles. Most of the longer runs in my collection are group books. There are a few reasons for that, but one in particular comes to mind right now

In a group book, if a favorite character is eliminated or changed radically, it's likely that there will be other characters who interest me still in the book. Hawkeye leaves the group? Well, damn...but still, Scarlet Witch! In a solo title, say back when Tony Stark was replaced as Iron Man by Rhodey, that could have been a deal-breaker--although that's a poor example in my own case because I really liked Rhodey in the armor--but still, point made, right?

On the other hand, back when Fantastic Four was my favorite book (the pre-teen years, this was), if they had killed off the Human Torch, I might have stopped buying it because at that time none of the other characters were all that interesting to me. (They were all "old." :P)

So, is a reboot of a character likely to turn me off enough to make me lose interest? Well...maybe. Let me think about that while I type.

Now, I do feel a little silly when I say that I understand why someone would be angry that a favorite storyline no longer "counted." Isn't a good story a good story regardless? What about Elseworlds or What Ifs or imaginary stories?

Well, sure, a good story is a good story. But if you're reading a What If? story, you file it away a little differently in your mind, or at least I do. You don't mentally add it to the stack of information on that character.

And reading serialized literature isn't like reading a stand-alone piece. On some level, anything that has to do with a particular character, unless you know it's explicitly out of "canon," is really only a chapter in the life of that character. In a narrative sense it becomes part of that character's life experience. It informs their opinions of and future interactions with the other characters in that storyline.

I suppose it's going to be a case-by-case thing, whether a particular aspect of a reboot irks me to the point where I throw up my hands and say "oh, s/he's not even the same person!" So, if suddenly Tim Drake never met Connor Kent? That's an enormous change in both characters, because their friendship was a significant one that affected not only what they'd done but how they had developed as characters. I'm not a big Tim fan, but if I were, that's something that would probably bother me, because a Tim who never knew Connor is not the same person.

Heck, I'm not even particularly a fan of either character, and that seems pretty clear to me.

So am I going to jump ship on titles or characters I like due to a reboot? Probably not. But maybe. We'll see.

How ever did I miss this?

2011-06-02T16:42:00.002-04:00

So, cruising the comic internet today, I came across this phrase in a discussion of DC's September plans: "day and date digital releases to match the shipping dates of physical comics."

Okay, yeah, I still want my trades and/or hardcovers. I don't really like reading comics online. Put it down to old eyes.

But when it comes to finding out what's happening in my favorite titles when the books actually come out? I am weak. So, so weak.

Not buying the floppies is easy. But to be able to get a peak at the latest Secret Six on The Day? Instant gratification?

I don't know if I can withstand that temptation.

How many DC books will I be getting come September?

2011-06-01T23:12:00.001-04:00

I read some DC books once in a while when I was a kid, but on the whole I was a Marvel girl. The sole DC title I followed was Legion of Superheroes and they weren't particularly affected by any crises, apart from the death of Supergirl, who wasn't a regular character there in any case.

I really didn't start to read DC books until I was an adult, and yes, it was the fault of the internet, why do you ask? :) So it was after the original Crisis reboot when I got my start. My vague childhood memories of Hal and Barry didn't interfere at all with my later appreciation for Kyle and Wally.

So, like my lifelong experience with Marvel, my shorter time with DC has given me a reasonably continuous...continuity. :) Marvel does tweak its history--a 21st-century Iron Man simply couldn't have gotten his start during the Viet Nam war--but he's still Tony Stark, and pretty much everything that's been printed in his comics is still a part of his canon history.

Now, I don't know how others feel about it, but to me the serial aspect of comic books is a great part of its appeal. A comic book or (more modernly) a story arc corresponds, in my mind, with a chapter of a book that I'm still reading. So if I start a new chapter and it tells me to ignore everything that's gone before? I won't be happy. But that's me.

But you know, keep all the Green Lanterns and I'll keep getting GLC. Keep Gail Simone on Secret Six and I'll keep buying it regardless of what happens there. I'll be tremendously disappointed if Superman becomes a bachelor or if Jason Todd is rekilled. (OTOH if Red Hood gets his own book I will probably break my no-floppies rule.)

So am I going to buy 52 DC books a month or the associated trades? Um....nope. Will anyone? I imagine someone will.

I need to get a new bookcase to hold all my trades...

2011-05-29T18:15:00.003-04:00

Since I've made the switch to trades (and yes, in some cases--Captain America and Green Lantern Corps--this has meant a switch to hardcover because I'm patient but I'm not that damn patient), I've noticed some unexpected changes in my buying habits.

Back in the old days, if I discovered a new book or character, I might start getting back issues. The last time I did this was actually not all that long ago, when I discovered the Kyle Rayner Green Lantern in some trades of Morrison's JLA; there were no trades available of that era's GL so I actually went to an old-school comic shop, with tables and tables of longboxes, and got what they had. I...probably wouldn't do that now. I've gotten spoiled by being able to have my comics on a bookshelf with the titles on the spine.

But now, of course, I can generally find what I want in a trade. When I discovered (via a post in scans daily IIRC) the character of Pete Wisdom, there were eleven different trades I could get to learn more about him. Eleven. And unlike back issues of floppies, that's money that goes to the comic company. So I see why they're so available, certainly.

Waiting on three Blackest Night hc's next week...

Comics are good

2011-04-18T19:58:00.002-04:00

It's been well over a year since I made the switch to trades. A few floppies have filtered in since then, but I think all the late books have made it here by now.

It's certainly changed my reading habits in that I read them in groups of six, which generally means that I read an entire story arc at once. This, I find I prefer. I suspect that has to do with the fact that stories now are often written with the 6-issue arc in mind.

Also during this time period, we bought a house. It's a great place, early 20th-century but comfortable (and safe, ever since we had the whole place rewired! :)) But, as you know if you've done this, buying a house means buying less of other things, especially including recreational items like comics. The trade thing means that presumably I'll be able to pick them up at some point in the future when I've more disposable income. But for now?

I've dropped most of my DC books apart from Secret Six. I will probably pick up Green Lantern Corps again once the massive crossover thing is done. And what with what's happened with Red Arrow/Arsenal I see little point to buying Titans (or JLA come to think of it).

And while I still love the Avengers, right now the sheer number of books still makes it a little cost-prohibitive. I'll get them someday.

Fantastic Four won't be back for me until the Human Torch is.

I do plan to continue buying Captain America, and the new Captain America and Bucky WWII-era book looks like fun.

I've always had a weakness for Marvel's WWII heroes, whether original-Timely or not, and by "always" I mean since the '70s when I was a kid reading the Invaders book. (Which I've been picking up the trades of as they come out.) I wouldn't mind seeing another ongoing Invaders title, and was in fact hoping for one when Invaders Now! was announced.

Invaders Now!, btw, will be here tomorrow. I hope. And maybe then I'll be able to guess as to the likelihood of another ongoing?

Deadpool dreams

2011-02-02T08:22:00.001-05:00

Last night I had a dream involving Deadpool, Joan Rivers, and a cast of thousands. Somehow it even made sense after I woke up.

Well, Bea Arthur's gone, the man's got to have a new crush, right?

Still love the Invaders

2010-11-28T20:13:00.005-05:00

I just got a few more trades, including The Torch. I am a total sucker for Golden Age superheroes, and I've always liked the Mad Thinker, so I quite enjoyed it. I'm delighted that the original Human Torch is back. Was quite impressed that Alex Ross made the boring-est Invader interesting, actually. And since I loved the original Invaders title back when I was a kid, I am also looking forward to reading Invaders Now! when it comes out in trade.

But that's not what I'm here to write about today. No, I'm here to make an anal-retentive continuity complaint.

So, The Torch starts out with Tom Raymond (Toro) sitting on a roof staring at his wife Ann, who has remarried since his death--and, according to a piece of Invaders Now! 1 I saw online, has two kids with the new husband, with whom she is cuddling on the couch--what, these people never heard of curtains? Fair enough, he's got a right to be bitter about the situation. But she doesn't look particularly old in the picture. Which she probably should be, right?

Okay, granted that Toro had a life after the war. He retired and married. You'd think sometime in the 50s or early 60s considering that his reanimated form is pretty youthful. But he could be older than he looks--he's a mutant, for one thing, and for another his body apparently contains some of the same cells as the original Torch, and that could have an anti-aging effect. So maybe he didn't marry until years later. It's still been a good long time since he died (a matter of decades according to Invaders Now!, which means at least 20 years have passed since they were together, and presumably more since he seems so uncomfortable in the modern world--doesn't like the music, hasn't seen the movies, is kind of freaked out by the tech.

So this is probably just one of those things where the sliding scale isn't working. Isn't it?

Another occasional update

2010-09-24T15:59:00.003-04:00

I really do only occasionally update these days, don't I?

I'm taking a bit of a vacation this weekend, as half the family has gone out of town and it's just me and the 16-year-old, who is quite low-maintenance. So last night I started to catch up on some of my comic reading. That means I read three trades: New Avengers: Powerloss (including NA 55-60), Dark Avengers: Molecule Man (DA 9-12), and Final Crisis: Rogues Revenge.

I've actually really enjoyed the Dark Avengers title, and since I also always liked the Molecule Man as a character this one was fun, and not a bad treatment of him. Norman Osborn would be more interesting if he didn't have the hero musculature. Fun seeing some of Victoria Hand's background.

Enjoyed the bit in NA where Cap/Bucky comes home to see what a mess Wolverine has made of his place. :) But man, the Hood still makes me yawn.

But I have to say that Rogues Revenge was probably the best of the lot, particularly since not only did I enjoy it the most, but before reading it I couldn't really have cared less about almost all the characters in it. Now...well, I wouldn't buy a Rogues ongoing, but I'd get another mini. (Well, I'd buy the trade when it came out, but you get my point.)

I've got a few more books in my read-it stack, but I'm not sure when I'll get to them.

Darn it all!

2010-05-14T15:15:00.001-04:00

I'm really bummed about Ryan Choi. He was such a fun character, I'm really going to miss him.

Action Figure Commentary: Stargirl and Cyclone

2010-05-11T13:58:00.004-04:00

I'm looking at my new Stargirl and Cyclone action figures.

Um, that Cyclone is one terrifyingly tall drink of water (the top of Stargirl's head comes up to her chin), and from the slits in her dress I'm guessing her wind powers provide onlookers the Marilyn Monroe effect more often than not. Nice upswept hair, though. But where's her hat? Didn't she have an awesome hat? And doesn't she have freckles?

Stargirl I have no complaints about, design-wise.

Neither is particularly articulated, but they're pretty. Girl superheroes in sensible shoes are always welcome at our house. Just don't stand them next to each other or you get the freakish height difference.

No such thing as too many Green Lanterns

2010-04-28T13:26:00.005-04:00

When it comes to collecting action figures, I usually figure that one figure per character is enough. Sure, I've got a few doubles. I've got two Huntress figures, but technically one is Helena Wayne and the other is Helena Bertinelli. I've got two Black Canaries, but since one is the old-school Alex Ross version, it could be Dinah's mom, right? And I've got two of Batman, and yes, they're both Bruce Wayne, but the DC Universe Classics one has this permanent Quasimodo crouch that makes him, well, just not that nice. But on the whole, yes, one is enough.

Which makes me think about why I'm sitting here with three Kyle Rayner Green Lanterns.

And the reason is: it's the costumes.

I've got the old one wearing his second costume, with the spiky hair and the dog collar. I've got the original costume, the version from the recent JLA Classified series. And now I've got the current costume, from the Blackest Night series.

Apart from the white gloves, I actually like the current costume the best. (And what's with the Green Lanterns and the white gloves anyway? Are they running their fingers across mantelpieces to check for dust?)

This surprised me because I was actually a bit fan of his first costume, and wasn't so impressed with the new one when I first saw it.

You know what the problem is? It's the JLA Classified body--or, as one could call it, "Kyle on steroids." Thick-necked, overmuscled, and definitely not Kyle's body. The Kyle of this era, remember, is artist Kyle, brand new superhero Kyle, Kyle who didn't think he even needed to work out because, you know, he had the ring! He was fit enough for a normal guy, sure, but he wasn't built like Hawkman.

And the original costume, designed for a slimmer build, just looks like hell on that body sculpt.

What were they thinking?

Well, I'm assuming they were thinking of the art. That certainly seems to be the case with the other two figures. The dog-collar Kyle looks like he just stepped out of an Eaglesham page. The Blackest Night Kyle, astonishingly, looks like Gleason's work--something I find surprising because, while I like Gleason, I didn't think he'd translate well into plastic.

So with that in mind, I'm wondering if I should ever look for the JLA Classified books, or would the art just drive me crazy?

So why is it?

2010-03-22T18:07:00.000-04:00

So today I was shopping online for some trades, and decided I'd pick up Countdown. (Don't judge me! I liked it!)

I discover that it's available in four trades total.

Only three of which (1-3) are in print.

Doesn't this seem like an odd choice for a limited-run series?

It's alive! It's aliiiive!

2010-03-06T15:50:00.003-05:00

Yes, it is true--I don't even blog semi-regularly anymore.

I think it is in fact mainly due to the switch to trades. It was hard enough to write about any current stuff going on when I got my floppies once a month and only a week's worth hadn't been discussed into the ground already. Now I don't see things at all until well after they've made the rounds of the comic internet.

Not that I'm complaining too much, mind you. I like the slight decrease in cost, I like being able to read entire story arcs all at once, I like that trades are so much more storable (and shelvable) than floppies. And it may be, although I'm not sure yet, that buying trades tends to reduce the whole "Must. Read. Comic. NOW!" thing. A trade will be around for a little while, I don't have to buy it as soon as it hits the shelves. I can think about it. I can read what others have to say about it before deciding to buy it. Okay, yeah, I'll probably buy it anyway...but in theory, you know?

Lucky for me I never did mind spoilers. :)

I'm still here. Kind of.

2010-02-03T19:29:00.003-05:00

I've been off the comic internet for a while, I know. So in case anyone was wondering...

Yes, I still like comics.

Yes, I still buy comics. (Just getting them as trades now, which seems less conducive to regular writing. Or maybe any writing. Not sure.)

Yes, I still have all my old comics, and am currently in the process of moving them into the attic of the new house.

Yes, I still have all my action figures, and have no idea whatsoever what I am going to do with them here.

No, I haven't been reading the comic blogoverse regularly, although I do dip in a toe occasionally.

No, I haven't been reading comic news sites or comic company sites, either regularly or at all. Best not to tempt the relatively new trade-buying habit with too much news of what's coming up.

No, I haven't twittered or read twitter in a while. I kinda miss it.

I also (clearly) haven't blogged in a while. I kinda miss it.

I return to talk about action figures. Yep.

2009-10-02T16:04:00.002-04:00

Well, I guess I am down to posting only sporadically these days. Something to do with moving house, I suppose.

Anyway, if you go to the DC Direct site, you'll see that they've got something new coming out next year--then-and-now two-pack action figures. You get two of the same character, as depicted at the start of their career and as they appear today. They've got Nightwing, Catwoman, Joker and Batman on the list.

And while I don't particularly need Nightwing in his first costume, and while the Joker is drawn in so many ways that it's hard to be sure which is the original and which the current version, I am sorely tempted by both the Batman and the Catwoman. Particularly the Batman. Picture an action figure of first-appearance Batman. No, wait, you don't have to picture it, you can go to the site and see it. Awesome.

As for the Catwoman, I like the costuming but not so sure about the figures themselves.

Still, clever idea, and a series I hope continues on for a while.

Where I've been

2009-08-31T02:25:00.003-04:00

Yes, I know, I've been gone. Been in the process of buying a house, which is somehow distracting. :)

Anyway, so the comics came last week and I've read about half of them. And I really think I'm going to switch just about everything to trades (other than Secret Six and possibly Captain America). This is, in part, a space issue. The whole packing thing? Has made it oh-so-clear that trades are just easier to deal with. Easier to organize, easier to find when you want them. And the 15 longboxes and handful of shortboxes that are going into the attic? Realistically, I know I won't be going through them often. Trades are the way to go from now on.

As for the action figures? Selective (and possibly seasonal) displays. You know, Green Lantern characters for Christmas, Batman and company for Halloween, that sort of thing. :) But there's just not room for all of them. Anywhere. I still love 'em, but will have to love them not all at the same time.

Now, going to go read my new Justice League International Volume Two. It's a lot of fun to read apart from so much of the text being a bit illegible--I don't know whether that's a poor print job or just the font used back then, but my old eyes don't much like it.

Lantern Love [Spoilers for GLC if you don't read previews]

2009-08-07T19:54:00.003-04:00

So, there's a preview up of Green Lantern Corps 39.

Remember not long ago, when Natu and Kyle encountered that Star Sapphire who had them peer into her gem to see who their "true love" was, and they discovered that the feeling was mutual, and they ran off to have an illicit (because GLs are no longer allowed to date) affair that could get them both thrown out of the Corps?

And while I find the idea of "true love" irksome--I think it's both a fallacy and potentially just a very bad thing, considering the number of folks who will stick with a bad boy/girlfriend because they think that person is their "soulmate"--at least that provided a context for the relationship forming under those circumstances. It also provided a context for Kyle--who sometimes seems to have bought into his own "kiss of death" image--being willing to do so at all.

However.

In this preview, Kyle admits to Guy that he didn't really see Natu in the gem. He saw Jade. He lied to Natu. I'm not sure why--because he does like her and is attracted to her, and Jade isn't exactly available? Because he didn't want her to feel bad or be embarrassed that she saw him in the gem? Because it just seemed like a good idea at the time? Who knows?

What it does indicate is that Kyle is kind of an ass.

If he'd told the truth to Natu, telling her that no, he didn't see her in the gem...well, she might have been embarrassed, might even have felt a bit hurt, but she wouldn't have gotten into a relationship with him under false pretences and against her better judgment.

I'm thinking he's in for a well-deserved verbal beatdown when Natu finds out what's up.

Oh, and the "true love" thing? I can't really imagine that it would have been Jade he saw, either if there's truth behind it or if it's (as I think likely) his own perceptions/projections that he saw in the gem.

In either case, it ought to be Alex.

However, since I don't think Alex is getting a Black Lantern ring, making it Jade makes some narrative sense. But it's still wrong.

A public service announcement

2009-08-04T13:34:00.003-04:00

I've just learned that DC Universe Classics is making a Katma Tui action figure. (Also a John Stewart action figure, but DC Direct has one of those coming out also.) You can pre-order it right now. Which I just did.

Katma Tui, Arisia...all we need now is Soranik Natu and I'll be...well, I'll be very happy. :)

Coolness!

2009-08-03T00:37:00.001-04:00

I have a Black Lantern ring!

Now, both the kids want it. And if I had two, they could have them. But I only have one. So in the interest of household peace, I will keep it for myself.

Yep, that's why.

Arisia!

2009-07-26T01:24:00.004-04:00

Just saw this in the latest DC previews:

BLACKEST NIGHT SERIES 3 ACTION FIGURES

BLACKEST NIGHT continues to astonish as DC Direct introduces the third series of action figures based on this storyline!

Don’t get caught without these new action figures, including Aquaman, the third member of the Black Lanterns; Arisia, the Green Lantern charged with protecting Earth; Larfleeze, the only living member of the avaricious Orange Lantern Corps, who comes with the slain – and slavish – Glomulus; and Star Sapphire of the Zamorans, whose members battle using the violet power of love.

All four figures feature multiple points of articulation and include a display base. Larfleeze, Arisia and Star Sapphire also come with lantern accessories.

An Arisia figure! Hot damn!

They've also got a Star Sapphire figure in this set, but I've already got one and really don't think I need two of 'em.

Legion costume thoughts

2009-07-26T00:39:00.003-04:00

I've been spending my online time today looking at stuff about the Legion of Superheroes. You know, in preparation for starting to read about them again.

And of course I've been reading some about the history of the title.

I wasn't around when they made their first appearance. And I only read them very occasionally in the sixties (seeing as how the sixties were over before I was nine). But during the seventies, I became quite a fan.

And I remember when the team got their new costumes. The Cockrum-designed ones. When Saturn Girl went from a tunic and tights to a pink swimsuit, when Element Lad changed his suit from pink to green, when Phantom Girl put on the bell-bottomed jumpsuit with strategically-placed cutouts. In general, the new outfits were brighter and/or showed more skin than the old ones.

And I was reading today about the change, folks looking back, saying that many of the women's new outfits were problematic--that Saturn Girl's new suit was uncharacteristically revealing, Princess Projectra's not particularly dignified (the neckline basically dipped to her navel and was held together with lacing). And I can kind of see all that now (certainly the outfits they put on Night Girl and Laurel Kent would have been gravitationally challenging).

But at the time, as a kid, I just thought they were pretty and futuristic. The minidresses, tunics and tights seemed so old-fashioned. The hair-dos did't help--I remember being convinced that Light Lass must have been much, much older than her brother because of her hair (which reminded me a bit of Miss Kitty on Gunsmoke). The new outfits came with new hairstyles, for both male and female Legionnaires (Timber Wolf, anyone?). And to me, everyone just looked so much more modern--so much more as if they could have existed in the future. Any era's depiction of future times seems to be built off of some extreme contemporary fashion (Saturn Girl's Farrah hair was a good example of this!)--and the original Legion costumes, to 1970s kids, just looked dated.

Now, of course, the old tunic-and-tights look is charmingly retro. Even Phantom Girl's flares are probably in that category. As for Imra's pink swimsuit? Maybe not so much.

There's a waste of an afternoon.

2009-07-25T16:15:00.003-04:00

So the husband has been watching coverage of the comic con on TV today, and I've been doing some internet stuff and looking up if anything interesting comes on (which, really, it hasn't).

He's been watching for several hours.

Hours, and JUST NOW they've announced that they'll be talking about actual comic books for a little while. At some point.

Remind me never to go to a comic convention, because I'm just not seeing a point to it.

Legion question (might have spoilers, not sure)

2009-07-23T15:35:00.004-04:00

So, although I'm not getting Legion of Three Worlds (I plan to pick up the trade) I have kind of been keeping an eye on what's going on via the internet.

So. Did I misread something, or is the original Legion (the one that grew up) going to be the regular DC universe Legion again?

Because if that's so, I am so getting that book. It's going on my pull list so fast it'll make heads spin.

I see reading comics in my future

2009-07-22T16:20:00.001-04:00

I think we've gotten through all the comics my brother gave the kids, and it comes to...

...about 8 1/2 longboxes full.

Yep.

Question for the 90s-aware

2009-07-21T17:17:00.002-04:00

So, speaking of 90s comics...

...my brother handed down a bunch of his old comics to the girls, and I've been putting them in longboxes (haven't been sorting them as well as I might, but oh well). And all those 90s years I'd quit buying comics? Well, he didn't.

So...did Marvel put out any comics in the 90s that didn't feature Wolverine in some way? Like, at all?

I dream of comics again

2009-07-20T23:29:00.001-04:00

Well, I thought it was going to be another comic-related dream.

Then Tony Stark turned into Michael Jackson.

I've got to stop reading non-comic entertainment news.

I dream of comics

2009-07-19T17:56:00.003-04:00

Well, that was longer than I meant to go between updates. Sorry 'bout that.

I really had an odd comic-related dream last night. In the dream, for some reason I hadn't been able to get my comics for a few months, and so I went to a store to stock up. I was happily picking up my comics, adding new titles and so forth, when I noticed that in the time since I'd last gotten comics, a new retro had made an appearance--yes, the "in" thing had become comic books in the style of the 1990s.

I woke up then, so am not sure whether I bought them or not.

I definitely want.

2009-07-10T00:05:00.002-04:00

I just ordered comics, and I totally ordered this.

It's a lot more muscular than Kyle Rayner should ever be, but it is an action figure with his original costume, which I've been wanting for ages.

So, yay!

Cartoons?

2009-07-09T20:10:00.002-04:00

Okay, so this isn't exactly comic book-related, but...

Animated Shorts: CN Gets "Real" As Fate of "Chowder" Up In Air.

So I'm reading the article aloud to the kids. When I get to the part where they're talking about the live-action shows on Cartoon Network, both girls say:

"They've already got three."

I did not know this because, as the ten-year-old then said:

"But I don't watch any of those."

She then said:

"I don't understand--it's called Cartoon Network!"

By the way, she absolutely loves Chowder. (And I don't mind watching it myself, it's a fun show with a lot of humor.) Lately, Chowder and Flapjack are her favorite CN offerings.

So, if my two kids (ten and fourteen, respectively) are any example, the more live action there is on Cartoon Network, the fewer actual kids will be watching it.

It's deja vu all over again!

2009-07-08T20:04:00.000-04:00

Oh, you have got to be kidding.

Marvel Introduces Groundbreaking Foilogram Covers

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice...well, you know.

Yeah, I'm old

2009-07-07T17:45:00.002-04:00

Came across this blog post today:

Comic Book Crimes of Fashion: Those Avengers Jackets

This is actually one of my favorite Avengers eras, but not at all because of the jackets. :)

Linkage

2009-07-05T17:34:00.001-04:00

Interesting link at Comic Book Resources about the past and current direction(s) of Batman.

Um...eek?

2009-07-04T17:26:00.000-04:00

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Sigh.

Question for the comic-storage knowledgable

2009-07-03T17:23:00.001-04:00

So, if I put my comic longboxes in a dry but unheated attic, are the comics going to be all right?

Ah, so that's what they did

2009-07-02T15:19:00.004-04:00

So when I saw the solicit for the new Young Allies one-shot, featuring a new story, I had to wonder what they'd do with the cast.

After all, the original 1940s-era Young Allies were, well, not exactly formed with 21st-century sensibilities in mind:

The group started out under the name "Sentinels of Liberty". They consisted of Bucky Barnes (Captain America's sidekick) and four of his friends: Knuckles (aka Percival Aloysius O'Toole), Jeff (Jefferson Worthing Sandervilt), Tubby (Henry Tinkle) and Whitewash Jones (who, being merely the requisite black stereotype, didn't have a fancy name like the others). (Toonopedia: http://www.toonopedia.com/ynallies.htm)

The current version has them as Pat O'Toole, Washington Carver Jones ("Wash" to his friends), Geoffrey Worthington Vandergill (connecting him with the Marvel-Universe Worthingtons?), and Henry Tinkelbaum. Some of the changes make sense, others seem arbitrary, and according to the oomic it was the original publisher who changed the names, so that's a nod to Golden Age fans.

It's a rather sweet story, actually. Worth a read.

Bat-commentary - Red Robin 1

2009-07-01T00:05:00.000-04:00

Holy crap, when did Tim start on the steroids? You don't get extra muscles just because it's a splash page...

Damian is such an ass (but an entertaining one).

I'm kind of glad that Tim's belief that Bruce Wayne is still alive is not based on anything but hope. It means that his search is irrational, but I think that's all right, that's realistic under the circumstances.

Kind of amused that Tim's just annoyed about all the crimefighting he's doing in Europe. :)

Bat-commentary - Batman 687

2009-06-30T14:18:00.002-04:00

This book really is going to have a different tone from Batman and Robin, isn't it? I expect I'll be reading B&R first, because it strikes me as more of a fun read, but I do plan to keep getting this one, at least for a while.

I think the treatment of Dick's hesitation in taking on the cowl was presented well. I'm not a huge Dick Grayson fan, but he is growing on me.

Actually I'm considering getting the trade. Because I'm considering switching just about all of my books to "waiting for the trade" status. But not quite yet.

Bat-commentary - Streets of Gotham 1

2009-06-29T14:11:00.002-04:00

This may turn out to be one of my favorites among the new Bat-books, surprisingly. I really want to know what happens next issue now!

As for the secondary feature, I really don't know much about Manhunter other than what I've seen of her in Birds of Prey, but this looks all right.

Bat-commentary - Batman and Robin 1

2009-06-28T14:00:00.002-04:00

Um, holy crap--the villain here is absolutely chilling.

That last page pretty much drove out anything else I had to say about this book. Ew.

Bat-commentary - Gotham City Sirens 1

2009-06-27T13:40:00.000-04:00

Decent read featuring two of my favorites (and I like Catwoman well enough, too). Harley is practically perfect, and Ivy isn't bad either. Actually, this would even be a decent intro to both characters for a new reader in that their dynamic is made clear very quickly.

I also got a huge kick out of the new villain trying to make a name for himself. Presumably this is the last we see of Boneblaster.

Also got a chuckle out of "The Broker." Not that I've ever really wondered where supervillains get their nifty hideouts, but this was still a fun bit.

One to keep getting.

Bat-commentary - Detective 854

2009-06-26T13:10:00.002-04:00

I will confess it: although I liked Batwoman from the start, I probably mostly liked her for her design. You know, because we really didn't have a lot of other info about her other than her connection with Renee Montoya.

Now, with the revamped Batwoman, that's changed.

As in, I like her more now.

I still like her design--again, I like it more with the awesome new boots with the grippy soles.

I like it that her "Alfred" is her father; they seem to have a good relationship, which is also a plus in this world of superheroes who don't get along with their parents.

Decent story, intriguing, creepy villain, good read.

The Question feature also shows some promise.

This one is a keep-getting-it.

Still reading, will post...soon.

2009-06-25T03:51:00.000-04:00

Still reading those Nightwing trades! And maybe it's the mix I picked up, but I am not finding that things are made more clear by reading them so far.

Too busy!

2009-06-24T03:49:00.001-04:00

Can't write, am in the middle of reading a stack of Nightwing trades.

Namor is my favorite!

2009-06-23T00:05:00.002-04:00

The newest Dark Avengers preview has, in fact, a very, very nice Namor moment.

Doom wishes he could be that cool.

I want this, but somehow I don't think it's meant for me

2009-06-22T00:05:00.001-04:00

I'm kind of looking forward to the upcoming Psylocke mini.

I liked the original conception of Psylocke a lot. I was less fond of the current design, not because of the design itself but because of the personality shift that seemed to follow. (Not that that wouldn't be an unreasonable response to trauma...)

However, the mini will not be the original Psylocke:

And while some fans may hold allegiance to the character's original form, Yost and editor Daniel Ketchum agreed that Fraction and Land's use of the Asian version made the most sense. "She definitely is going back to her ninja assassin look," he said, citing J. Scott Campbell's variant for "Uncanny #510" as a prime example of Psylocke. "We tend to think of that as what people identify as the definitive Psylocke. I still kind of like the light pink butterfly Psylocke here and there, but I think for most modern readers Psylocke is that person.

which I suppose (along with the choice of artist) indicates the intended audience for the book. :)

Of course these days I don't read the X-books. And while I retain a fondness for Betsy, I don't like her nearly well enough to get back into that mess.

But I will probably get the mini, probably wait until the trade.

2009-06-21T13:35:00.002-04:00

Saw this up for an upcoming mini about the Rikki Barnes character, who is apparently going by the name of "Nomad," which is kind of neat.

I'll wait for the trade on this one, I think, but I will get it.

Captain America thoughts

2009-06-20T15:09:00.003-04:00

I've been seeing all this hype about Captain America: Rebirth. Which, I like Captain America, and likely would have gotten this anyway, so fine. I'm actually not convinced that it is in fact the return of Steve Rogers that's being heralded (and if it isn't, I anticipate a great deal of fan whining).

If it is, that's cool. I like Steve Rogers and have missed seeing him around. And to be honest, while I'm sure that the intention is that "Dark Reign" is at least in part supposed to be what happens to the Marvel Universe when Captain America is gone, I'm really not seeing that in the comics I'm reading. Although I'm not intrigued enough by Dark Reign that I'll be at all sad to see it go, you know?

And while I've seen concern elsewhere about what will happen to Bucky Barnes, the current Captain America, when the "real" Cap returns...to be honest, while I love the title and what's been done with the character, I think that the interesting part of Bucky becoming Cap has pretty much been done now. He's gained some comfort in the role and some acceptance by the hero community. The transition is nearly over.

But as far as just seeing Captain America in action every month, really, I'd rather see Steve.

And I'd rather see Bucky as himself.

More stuff to carry home.

2009-06-19T18:24:00.002-04:00

We're on our annual vacation now, and as usual we took an afternoon to visit all the reasonably-local comic shops we could find in the phone book. We had a list of six.

Two were closed. By which I mean, there were no longer comic shops at those addresses--the stores are gone.

The others were lovely.

One where I found a Deathstroke action figure (on sale!).

One where I found a copy of the Secret Six mini in trade form, and mumblemumble different Nightwing trades. The fourteen-year-old found an action figure of the Joker from (I think) Killing Joke--it's the one where he's in a Hawaiian shirt and shorts, and she's been admiring it from afar for a while now.

One where I picked up the trade of Brubaker's Catwoman.

And one where I found some minimates for the ten-year-old. (She hasn't seen them yet, she's been playing Rock Band with her cousin.)

All good.

No title today, I'm too tired to think!

2009-06-18T11:37:00.002-04:00

You know, I just realized--yesterday I mentioned that Secret Six had supplanted Captain America as my favorite title, the one I always read first when the Big Box O Comics arrives.

But I'm not sure whether that means that I'm enjoying Secret Six a little bit more these days, or enjoying Captain America a little bit less these days. SS has been consistently good from the onset. CA has as well, although I think that #50 and #600 have provided a sort of lull. But I think it's actually more the latter than the former.

I think it's possible that I'm finding BuckyCap a little less interesting now that he's more of a part of the established superhero community. That's weird, isn't it?

I think it is official

2009-06-17T11:31:00.001-04:00

My favorite comic book is now Secret Six.

This means that it has taken over the number one slot occupied by Captain America for the last several years.

They're not at all similar, as comics go, but they do have one thing in common: the ability to get me to read one, then spend the next month wondering what's going to happen next.

Do not want

2009-06-16T00:05:00.003-04:00

You know, I know that every comic book character is somebody's favorite. And I know that "favorite" is a most subjective term.

But you know, I never really understood the need for the new Justice League of America title to start out with a focus on the Red Tornado. I don't dislike the guy, but he kind of leaves me cold. (Perhaps because I grew up reading about the Vision in the Avengers who IMO had the same routine only did it far more compellingly. Personal opinion, of course.) So, while there are a number of reasons why I didn't keep getting the JLA book, one of them was, in fact, that the first story arc featured someone I have always found dull as dust.

But, you know, different tastes.

However, I completely fail to see the need for a Red Tornado mini. Except that it's easier for the non-fan to avoid, which is a plus. :)

Here she is...

2009-06-15T00:05:00.004-04:00

Preview up for the Miss America Special.

I first encountered Miss America in, I think, the 1970s, when her husband the Whizzer appeared in the Avengers comic. At the time the two of them were being presented as possible parents for Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch; Miss America was no longer alive at that point, and the Whizzer was an old man, and it turned out that they had no relation to Wanda and Pietro at all. One thing I recall thinking was neat about her was that she wore glasses--while in costume! That was something you never saw back then.

There's something I'm wondering about, though--although the cover for this comic is excellent, very much in the spirit of the war-era Timely titles, why is the Miss America pictured on it a glasses-less blonde? The Miss America in the story looks as she should, what's with the cover?

Wondering what I'll be buying a year from now

2009-06-14T00:05:00.000-04:00

This preview of Streets of Gotham looks decent.

I'm not sure how long this premise will support an ongoing title, though.

And never say maybe, because THIS happens.

2009-06-13T00:05:00.000-04:00

Are Marvel divas just fanboy fantasies?

Still thinking of trying this one, but not really expecting a lot at this point.

Never say never, because THIS happens

2009-06-12T00:05:00.003-04:00

You know, I'd seen the first mention of an upcoming Magog title from DC, and I'd pretty much figured it was something I'd never have to worry about spending money on.

And maybe that's still true.

But upon hearing that Keith Giffen is the writer, I might have to at least give it a look. No promises, mind you, but now it's a "hey, I'll think about it" instead of a "what, are you kidding?"

Note to self

2009-06-11T00:05:00.001-04:00

Pick up a copy of R.E.B.E.L.S. when it comes out in trade.

Obviously

2009-06-10T00:05:00.002-04:00

I'm going to be getting the Batman and Robin title, although I haven't seen it yet (damn you, monthly comic book delivery!), but I hadn't been all that excited about it.

This preview of the cover to #4, however, looks potentially interesting.

The obvious assumption is that this "New Red Hood" is Jason Todd. Now, I was already burned once by trying to out-clever the solicitations and guessing that the third Batman in BftC couldn't be him because it was too obvious, so I won't say that this time. But, you know, it really is too obvious. :)

Super-family values

2009-06-09T00:05:00.002-04:00

You know, this would actually be okay!

I haven't read the Isaiah Bradley Cap story yet, but I'm intrigued by the possibility of rejuvenating him--not because we need another Captain America (although, you know, the more the merrier I guess), but because I'd love to see him interact with the Young Avengers and his grandson, Patriot, who has grown up with only stories of his grandfather's heroism. It'd be awesome to see them working together, even in a one-shot.

In which I discover how typical I am

2009-06-08T00:05:00.003-04:00

Interesting article up at Comic Book Resources about the cancellation of Captain Britain and MI-13.

And, in reading it, I had to agree with something the article said: Captain Britain, the character, tends to be a bit dull. An effort was made in this series to provide him a weak area--having his power dependent on confidence (making him the "Little Superhero That Could," I suppose)--which I think had potential but isn't really the most fascinating of fatal flaws.

But even at that, Brian Braddock came off as a touch thick, and Cornell might've been better served by overtly demonstrating why Captain Britain – all the characters, really – were worthy of special attention this time around. At minimum, if you're going to name a book after someone he ought at least be presented as the central figure.

And I have to admit that I wouldn't buy a Captain Britain title if he was the only one in the book. Possibly not even if he was just the main focus of the book. (Nothing against British heroes, I'd buy a Union Jack book in a flash!) The supporting cast was what got me throwing my cash at them.

Just one problem that's rarely mentioned: as a rule, superhero fans hate magic.

I have to admit that this, too, probably applies to me. I enjoyed the stories in CB&MI13, but at the back of my mind there was always this sense that this was all right, but I'd be glad when something more mundane was happening in the book. :) I don't mind magic in my comic books, but I don't like comic books about magic, if you see what I mean. I always thought it was just me. Apparently not--apparently I'm just part of some greater trend (sigh).

So who says comics aren't expensive?

2009-06-07T00:05:00.001-04:00

This preview of the Marvel Superhero Squad game is going to force me to get a Wii, isn't it?

Further grumbling about canceled comic books

2009-06-06T00:05:00.002-04:00

Just read the most recent Captain Britain and MI-13, and wanted to reiterate my disappointment in Marvel for canceling this book. You can put out and maintain four damn Avengers titles (which, admittedly, I also buy) but you can't let us have this one wonderful, charming little book?

I'll really miss seeing Spitfire on a regular basis.

How. Cool. Is this?

2009-06-05T00:05:00.000-04:00

Imagine my thrilled-ness to see this: The Torch, a new mini featuring original Human Torch Jim Hammond.

I've had a great fondness for the original Torch ever since I was a teenager reading The Invaders, where he soon became one of my favorite parts of that book. I also enjoyed him in the more recent New Invaders, and thought it was a great loss when they killed him off there.

So yeah, that's the good news of the day around here!

Astonishing reaction from Brainfreeze

2009-06-04T00:05:00.001-04:00

Just read Captain America 50.

And I know this is only because it was an anniversary issue, which tend to be content-free.

But, for the first time ever, a Brubaker Cap book makes me go "meh."

Oh, but there was Hembeck! That alone made it worth buying!

Hoping for better next month. Oh, wait, next month is #600. Hoping for better in two months.

My favorite comic--it really is that simple.

2009-06-03T00:05:00.002-04:00

You know, I can talk a lot about what comics I enjoy, what comics I don't, what comics are on thin ice when it comes to staying on my pull list.

But what it comes down to is this.

When the new Big Box O' Comics has arrived and I only have a few minutes to read one of them, which one do I pick?

And the answer to that question is Secret Six.

More Batwoman

2009-06-02T00:05:00.002-04:00

There's an article up at Newsarama about Batwoman's new look in Detective Comics.

Actually, I always kind of liked the character and her look, but getting rid of the high heels is a definite plus.

Coolness!

2009-06-01T00:05:00.001-04:00

The preview is up for the Young Allies book.

Looks decent!

Latest Iron Man cartoon

2009-05-31T00:05:00.000-04:00

So I watched the new Iron Man cartoon again last night, the one with teen Tony, Rhodey and Pepper. They introduced a new character--Obadiah Stane's daughter, Whitney. Which is cool, she seems to have decent character potential.

However, the only "Whitney" I know of from the Iron Man comics, is Whitney Frost, aka Madam Masque. I know the cartoon plays around a lot with resources available from the comics, but I also get the sense that maybe I shouldn't get too attached to Whitney as an Iron Man ally.

Why?

2009-05-30T00:05:00.000-04:00

Just...why?

Waiting for the UPS man

2009-05-29T00:05:00.000-04:00

My comics are on their way, hooray!

Here's the thing about getting your comics once a month

You want them to send them, but you kind of don't want them to send them, because you also want as many comics in the box as possible.

Well, this box has CA 50 (which looks kind of lame from the previews, but we'll see) and BftC 3, so I'm good.

It's a good time to be a Cap fan.

2009-05-28T00:05:00.003-04:00

There's a preview of Captain America 600 up at Newsarama.

It's just art, no text, but it looks like a typical "landmark issue" kind of comic, possibly not driving the main storyline much if at all.

Of course I want it anyway. :)

This is interesting

2009-05-27T00:05:00.004-04:00

I don't read the funnies (get my news from the internet these days) but I find this interesting.

Newspaper Spider-Man is still married.

I find it interesting because it points to the difference between a newspaper comic strip audience and a comic book audience, or more specifically, to the relationship creators have with either. Clearly, newspaper audiences have more power in that relationship. My guess would be that this has to do with the fact that newspaper fans complain to the newspapers, and the newspapers complain to Marvel, and a complaint from a newspaper carries more weight than a complaint from an individual reader--it's a bigger potential cost. If Jane Comic-book-fan decides to stop picking up a title, it's not a huge deal. If the Daily Bugle decides to drop the strip (and why is the Bugle running a Spider-Man strip anyway?), that's quite a loss of revenue.

And people who read the newspaper Spider-Man, on the whole, aren't buying the paper just in order to read Spider-Man. They are casual readers. They are less willing to do the work of adjusting to the new situation. If established continuity is messed with too much, they'll just stop reading, because they don't care.

Contrast this with the comic book reader, who cares very much, and who is far less likely to successfully complete a boycott because he or she just can't go without a fix for that long.

Just curious

2009-05-26T00:05:00.000-04:00

So which comes first, timeline-wise, Trinity or the death of Batman? I'm guessing the former, but since (real-time-wise) the latter was ages and the former is still going on, I'm not entirely clear on it.

You know, Tarantino movies can jump around in time because a movie is a discrete unit. You can work out what's up. An entire comic line, it gets confusing.

Madam Masque

2009-05-25T00:05:00.001-04:00

So the recent appearances of Madam Masque in New Avengers got me thinking.

I remember her from old Iron Man comics, where--first as the beautiful and criminal Whitney Frost, and then as Madam Masque--she wasn't a half-bad villain. Her outfit was striking. Her intelligence was impressive. Her ruthlessness was entertaining. There was a point where she had an actual relationship with Tony Stark (not that that's much of a feat), complete with the usual angst and betrayal. Haven't seen her in a while, and hope she's used well this time around.

But you know? She's pretty much got the same shtick as Dr. Doom. Scarred villain with a mask, and some sense that their power-hunger is exacerbated by their perceived loss of beauty and subsequent lack of connection to the world. (Actually I always kind of liked the version of Doom where the extent of his injury was a small, barely noticeable scar--that it was only his own perception that he was hideously deformed, because he was no longer "perfect"--but I think that interpretation has long gone by the wayside.)

Why is it that it is so much more central to her identity? I mean, there's a lot more to Doom than his scarring. But with Madam Masque, once that happened, that seemed to become pretty much her entire backstory. And she had so much more in addition to that--she was a villain before her injury, after all.

Maybe a last thought on BftC

2009-05-24T00:05:00.003-04:00

There's an interview up with Tony Daniel that explains some of why Battle for the Cowl was written as it was.

Doesn't necessarily make it make sense, but explains it.

In which I once again talk about something I haven't read yet. (Spoilers for BftC3)

2009-05-23T00:05:00.001-04:00

The spoiler warning is for those, unlike myself, who avoid spoilers.

I won't be seeing it for weeks, so of course I had to read all the talk I could find on Battle for the Cowl 3.

The identity of the Batman-to-be is not surprising.

The identity of the Robin-to-be is even less surprising.

What is a little surprising, but pleasantly so? That apparently someone is thinking about doing something interesting with Jason Todd, in that they seem to be trying to make him more sympathetic. (Unfortunately this seems likely to be taking the form of adding some sort of abuse to his childhood, but it's comics, that's what they do.) This probably means that they're hoping to redeem him to some extent. I say this because it seems like they want him to have a background that's so bad that, having suffered through it, he could be forgiven anything.

I'm guessing, of course.

Heavy sigh.

2009-05-22T00:05:00.001-04:00

Now this is a real disappointment. I am seriously bummed now.

Captain Britain and MI-13 has been cancelled.

Dang it.

What I Want: The August 09 Marvel Solicitations

2009-05-21T00:05:00.003-04:00

THE MARVELS PROJECT #1 (of 8)
Written by ED BRUBAKER
The centerpiece of Marvel's 70th Anniversary celebration! Who is the mysterious old man who lies on his deathbed in a hospital in 1939, and how does his passing mark the beginning of the first heroic age of the Marvel Universe — and signal the rise of the superhumans? Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting unveil the defining story of the origin of the Marvel Universe, revealing the hidden connections that unite the earliest costumed champions, and whose reverberations are felt dramatically into the present day! It’s a world on the brink of war, and the race is on to create the world's first super-soldier! Witness the first days of the Human Torch, the Sub-Mariner, and many more-- how they shaped the world to come, and how the future they would create in turn shaped them! The must-read event of the season for any Marvel fan from the Award-Winning creators who redefined Captain America for the modern audience!
ALL WINNERS COMICS #1 70TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL
Captain America and Bucky...the Human Torch and Toro...the Sub-Mariner...Miss America...the Whizzer...THE ALL-WINNERS SQUAD! It's 1946 and World War 2 is over, but the memory of those lost in the War haunts everyone— especially when Times Square is overrun by undead soldiers wanting their lives back! And leading this tattered battalion are the two casualties the All-Winners Squad can't fight— the original Captain America and Bucky! Plus: a surprise romance that has all the tabloids a-twitter! "Old Soldiers Never Die..." by Karl Kesel (MARVEL APES) and Steve Uy (AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE) Buy Bonds! And this comic!
MYSTIC COMICS #1 70TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL
“I am the destroyer of evil,” the haunting stranger intoned; “I’ve crossed the great cold into your world!” So speaks the original Vision! From a dimension beyond, comes an otherworldly force of retribution. His steely touch turns killers to ice, shattering them. His staggering gaze drives the guilty mad with terror. His unstoppable power never fails to punish the wicked! It is said only those approaching death can see him in his true form as...the Vision!
MARVEL COMICS #1: 70TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
Celebrating the 70th Anniversary of Marvel Comics in style the best and brightest color-art talents in the field bring you a bold new look at the comic that started it all! From the first appearance of The Human Torch to the original jungle adventures of Ka-Zar and the incomparable introduction of Bill Everett’s Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner, each tale from Marvel Comics #1 has been paired with one of the field’s most innovative color artists to create a fascinating contemporary take on these classic tales. Including contributions from the trend-setting talents of Dean White (AMAZING SPIDER-MAN; LOGAN), Dave McCaig (NEW AVENGERS; NEXTWAVE), Jason Keith (MIGHTY AVENGERS; SHANNA THE SHE-DEVIL), Morry Hollowell (CIVIL WAR; WOLVERINE) and Frank D’Armata (CAPTAIN AMERICA; HOUSE OF M), there’s no question that this will be MARVEL COMICS #1 like you’ve never seen it before! So come join the party—including Marvel’s mega-midnight birthday bash—and toast to the most important comic art achievement of 1939—2009-style!

What are you trying to do to me, Marvel? Don't I already give you enough of my money?

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #601
Prepare for the All-New, All-Deadly: DARK MARY-JANE!! Oops, sorry, that's the rest of Marvel's solicits...Actually, in this issue "Red-Headed Stranger" begins just after the surprising events of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #600 with Pete's love life taking a turn for the worse just as his old flame Mary Jane returns to New York City. (FINALLY!! Sheesh. What took us so long?!)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #602
"RED-HEADED STRANGER Part II"
THE CHAMELEON returns with a terrifying new mission that has MAYOR J. JONAH JAMESON squarely in his sights! Meanwhile, the ANTI-SPIDER SQUAD narrows its dragnet around the Wall-Crawler, and Peter Parker gets a brand new job...will it bring him closer to the newly-returned MARY JANE, or push her further away?
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #603
"RED-HEADED STRANGER Part III"
THE CHAMELEON is poised to unleash unspeakable horror on New York City and SPIDER-MAN is nowhere to be found, so the only person who can stop him is...MARY JANE WATSON?!

For the fourteen-year-old.

DARK AVENGERS #8
Norman's X-Men, as led by Emma and Namor, are the face of mutant law and order! The X-Men look played out of position as Osborn's dark reign falls over California-- but Scott Summers isn't done yet. The X-Men strike at Norman, at H.A.M.M.E.R., at his fraud X-Men and his sham Avengers all at once! This is the book where, at long last, the Marvel Universe starts to fight back-- and it sets the stage for next month’s unbelievable conclusion in UNCANNY X-MEN/DARK AVENGERS - EXODUS!

This is a maybe, due to the X-Men crossover. X-Men crossovers leave a bad taste in my mouth. It was the 90s, but I've got a long memory.

MS. MARVEL #43 & 44
In Ms. Marvel #43: Karla Sofen's bad day gets worse as the summer's blockbuster Dark Reign event continues. WAR OF THE MARVELS Part 2 brings the Dark Avengers to the front lines.
In Ms. Marvel #44: Hope is crushed and the battle is nearly lost as the Dark Reign event continues in WAR OF THE MARVELS Part 3! As Karla Sofen faces an unbeatable threat, the legacy of Ms. Marvel hangs in the balance.

"War of the Marvels"? What is this "War of the Marvels"? Guess I've been skimming the comic news and missed something.

NEW AVENGERS #56
Oh man, it is not a good day for the New Avengers. Someone has invented a power disrupter and unleashed it in New York City. The heroes have fallen. Some are hurt bad, others near death. Who will rise to the challenge and save the day? A very important DARK REIGN issue. Something big happens. Not going to tell you what it is but it happens on page 17, panel 4.

I don't need convincing to get this one anyway.

AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #27
Blastaar's alien army has seized 42, the Initiative's prison in the Negative Zone. Someone has to take it back, and the Taskmaster has assembled a team to do just that. But when Komodo looks around her at the squad of Z-list super-villains she's supposed to go into battle with, she wonders if this is a recovery job...or a suicide mission! And when she encounters familiar faces who had been incarcerated within the prison, will they be friend or foe? Also, because you demanded it--the return of Butterball!

Cool!

FANTASTIC FOUR #570
Brand new creative team - Brave new comics experience! Be there as Marvel's newest exciting creator, Jonathan Hickman, teams up with superstar artist, Dale Eaglesham, to give you the Fantastic Four experience you've been waiting for! It's adventure, it's family, it's tough questions in dark times...See what happens when Reed Richards tries to SOLVE EVERYTHING.

Hm...new creative team...maybe it's time to pick this up again after all?

MARVEL DIVAS 2

Waiting for the trade, I think, if that.

MARVEL ADVENTURES THE AVENGERS #39
TAKIN’ CARE OF BUSINESS: Aleksei Sytsevich just wants to retire. The economy is bad, and freelance jobs are harder to find. Business just isn’t what it used to be. It’s time to hang up the suit and live the good life. Of course, when the “business” is super-villain crime sprees as the Rhino, and the “suit” in question is his costume, the Rhino is finding it a bit harder to close the books on his “career.” Luckily, the Avengers are more than glad to help an old foe get out of the game, even if it means dealing with a little bit of trouble. Or, in this case, a LOT of trouble, because the Abomination and the Leader aren’t going to let their old teammate step away from the game quite that easily!

For the ten-year-old.

MIGHTY AVENGERS #28
"WITCH-HUNT"
Guest-starring the YOUNG AVENGERS!
When the adults are away, it's the perfect time for VISION and STATURE to sneak a few friends into the Avengers new headquarters and throw a party. No, not that kind of party. It's a hunting party-- and the target they're after is...THE SCARLET WITCH!
Also: QUICKSILVER and US AGENT face off against a longtime Avengers villain and their new team. All this and the start of a strange cosmic odyssey for HANK PYM.

This one sounds good, hoping for more Young Avengers sightings!

DEADPOOL #13 & #14
“Wave of Mutilation,” Part 1 & 2
Deadpool has ceased to exist, he’s given his good-byes, he’s driven his car into the ocean. They’ll think he’s dead, but he’ll sail away. Then, he becomes a pirate!

Sounds like something the ten-year-old would come up with, also sounds good. :)

Think I'll get the Deadpool minis as trades.

What I Want: The August 09 DC Solicitations

2009-05-20T00:05:00.003-04:00

BLACKEST NIGHT #2
The event of the summer continues! The dead rise across the DC Universe, bringing terror and darkness with them. What are the Black Lanterns? What do they want? Will Earth's greatest heroes survive long enough to find out – or will they join the Black Lantern Corps?

Still looking forward to this, although with more trepidation than before.

BLACKEST NIGHT: BATMAN #1
Deadman can't shut out the cries of the dead rising as he comes to the aid of the new Batman. It’s just in time, too, as the duo face a circus of zombies including the Black Lantern Flying Graysons!

So I guess this is confirmation of the identity of the new Batman? I mean, who else would care about the Flying Graysons?

BLACKEST NIGHT: TITANS #1
Black Lantern Titans are descending together onto Titans Island! Will the Titans be prepared to fight off their deceased allies? And how can Beast Boy not lose his heart to Black Lantern Terra?

Yeah, okay, fine, I'm buying this too. Geez.

GREEN LANTERN #45
BLACKEST NIGHT continues! The Black Lanterns descend on all the Corps throughout the universe! Sinestro's assault on the Star Sapphires’ homeworld of Zamaron is interrupted by another Sinestro Corps – one made up of those who died during the Sinestro Corps War! And while the War of Light flickers, deep in the darkness of space, John Stewart comes face-to-face with his deceased wife – and longtime Green Lantern – Katma Tui.

Okay, time to pick up the regular GL book.

GREEN LANTERN CORPS #39
Just when things couldn't look any darker after the death and chaos of the Sciencell riot, Blackest Night descends on Oa! The black rings tear into the planet and the Lantern Crypt causing all the dead Corps members to rise and wreak havoc as a new and deadlier battle threatens to engulf not only the Corps, but the Universe itself!

And this one is always on my list.

WEDNESDAY COMICS #5-8
WEDNESDAY COMICS, DC’s spectacular 12-issue weekly series, continues to offer a comics experience unlike any other this August. In its second month, don’t miss the action in these continuing features:
• THE METAL MEN encounter a deadly guest-villain in a story written by Dan DiDio with art by Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez.
• THE FLASH battles Gorilla Grodd and tries to date Iris West in a story written by Karl Kerschl (TEEN TITANS YEAR ONE, THE FLASH: THE FASTEST MAN ALIVE) and Brenden Fletcher with art by Karl Kerschl.
• SUPERGIRL attempts to deal with Streaky and Krypto gone bad in a story written by Jimmy Palmiotti (JONAH HEX) with art by Amanda Conner (POWER GIRL).
• GREEN LANTERN must help a fellow test pilot whose space mission has transformed him into a monster in a story written by Kurt Busiek (TRINITY, ASTRO CITY) with art by Joe Quiñones (TEEN TITANS GO!).
• SUPERMAN questions his heroic mission while on a trip to Smallville in a story written by John Arcudi (The Mask) with art by Lee Bermejo (JOKER).
• ADAM STRANGE takes a truly twisted journey into space in a story by writer/artist Paul Pope (BATMAN: YEAR 100).
• WONDER WOMAN is lost in a dream world in search of her lost tiara, bracelets and magic lasso in a story written and illustrated by Ben Caldwell (Dare Detectives).
• THE TEEN TITANS are attacked by Trident in a story written by Eddie Berganza with art by Sean Galloway.
Plus:
• BATMAN, WEDNESDAY COMICS’ weekly cover feature, by the Eisner Award-winning 100 BULLETS team of writer Brian Azzarello and artist Eduardo Risso.
• METAMORPHO, written by New York Times best-selling writer Neil Gaiman with art by Eisner Award-winner Michael Allred (Madman).
• THE DEMON AND CATWOMAN, written by Walter Simonson (Thor, MANHUNTER) with art by famed DC cover artist Brian Stelfreeze.
• DEADMAN, written by Dave Bullock and Vinton Heuck, art by Dave Bullock.
• KAMANDI, written by Dave Gibbons (WATCHMEN, GREEN LANTERN CORPS) with art by Ryan Sook (Buffy The Vampire Slayer, ARKHAM ASYLUM: LIVING HELL).
• HAWKMAN, written and illustrated by Kyle Baker (PLASTIC MAN, Special Forces).
• SGT. ROCK, written by Adam Kubert (SUPERMAN: LAST SON), ilustrated by legendary comics artist Joe Kubert.

Wow, that is a lot of comic! And Streaky and Krypto? That's a must-have in any format!

BATGIRL #1
In the wake of “Batman R.I.P.” and BATTLE FOR THE COWL, a new heroine has emerged in Gotham City, and as she begins her nocturnal crusade to take back the night, she will truly learn what it means to wear the mantle of the Bat. But who is this young woman, and why has she donned the cape and cowl?

New heroine, hm?

BATMAN AND ROBIN #3
“Batman Reborn” concludes the explosive reteaming of Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely (ALL-STAR SUPERMAN, WE3, New X-Men)! Witness Batman and Robin’s final showdown against Professor Pyg and the Circus of Strange! The future looks bright for the new Dynamic Duo as they prove themselves in battle, but lurking in the shadows is a mysterious red-hooded vigilante. Also, the origin of Scarlet!

This sounds potentially a good read.

DETECTIVE COMICS #856
“Elegy” part 3 of 4! Batwoman unites with an unlikely ally to momentarily defeat the fairytale villain known as Alice. But when Kate is forced to attend a high society event, she soon learns that her worlds are colliding as Alice’s plans for Gotham’s elite put Kate’s father directly in harm’s way.
Plus, in the next part of The Question co-feature, writer Greg Rucka and artist Cully Hamner bring Renee’s search for a missing girl to new depths when The Question is trapped inside a sinking car. Will her life and her leads end up at the bottom of the river?

Looking forward to this one a fair amount, actually.

BATMAN #689
“Long Shadows” continues! Batman forges ahead in his battle to retrieve the escapees from Arkham Asylum, while Two-Face begins a ground war of his own. Elsewhere, Penguin wants to become Gotham City's new king of crime, but to do so he has to make a deal with the devil.

You know, I think it would have been more fun to have several Batmen running around for a while. But okay.

BATMAN: STREETS OF GOTHAM #3
Bruce Wayne is dead...long live Bruce Wayne! Gotham's favorite son has miraculously returned, promising to lead his city into a new golden age. But while Wayne devotes his limitless fortune to rebuilding Gotham City, he fights violent opposition from Batman, Robin and a host of DC Universe heroes!
And in the Manhunter co-feature, now that Manhunter has found the previous DA's killer – or, rather, the killer has found her – what is she going to do about it? Bringing the killer in for a trial may not result in the justice Kate's been dreaming of. But is she ready to kill for justice so soon after a fresh start in Gotham?

Maybe I will learn to love Manhunter now?

GOTHAM CITY SIRENS #3
With their uneasy alliance in place, the sirens encounter trouble in the form of the mysteriously returned Bruce Wayne. He's dazzling, he's dangerous and he's got his sights set on Harley Quinn! Has romance sparked between these two long-time enemies – or is Wayne playing a more sinister game?

Well, I can guess at who the Bruce Wayne is, but we'll see.

RED ROBIN #3
“The Grail” part 3 of 4! “Batman Reborn” continues, but is Red Robin's quest to find Bruce Wayne at an end? Because in a German museum, answers await. But to get to those answers, Red Robin has to go through the Global Guardian known as the Wild Huntsman. Making matters worse, Red Robin's got an unwanted ally – Ra's al Ghul! Also, discover what happened in the days after BATTLE FOR THE COWL?

Well, I am getting this, but to be honest, if it is (as seems likely) Tim Drake, I'm probably not keeping it on the list.

DOOM PATROL #1
Come one, come all! The world's strangest Super Heroes are back, and they brought those robot guys along with 'em! Thrill to the strange adventures of the Doom Patrol, with script by Keith Giffen and art by Matthew Clark! Whether you think you know 'em or you wouldn't know 'em if they bit you on the behind, this Doom Patrol's for you! But that's not all! Read all the way to the back cover for the all-new adventures of those elemental everymen, the Metal Men, featuring the triumphant return of the creative team that brought you JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL! That’s 40 full pages of comic-bookery for just under four American dollars. So why not try some Doom Patrol with a side order of Metal Men today?

Doom Patrol, woohoo!

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #30
“Bad Seed” part 2 of 5! The JSA feels the strain when battling a monstrous collection of villains who’ve mounted an all-out war on the team to collect a bounty placed on the head of everyone in the group except Stargirl! Tensions flare, and the group is forced to make a compromise in order to chase their fleeing enemies or return to the mansion to find out why Mister Terrific’s communications have suddenly stopped! And Dr. Fate returns to the team in this second issue from the new creative team of writers Bill Willingham (FABLES) and Matthew Sturges (BLUE BEETLE) and artist Jesus Merino (SUPERMAN ANNUAL)!

Still getting this.

Think I'm going to get the new Justice League in trade form after all, since it turns out it's a mini.

POWER GIRL #4
“Space Girls Gone Wild!” part 1 of 2! A trio of sexy alien marauders hits Earth for the ultimate party. Unfortunately, by their standards, that means destroying it! Of course, it’s up to Power Girl to crash their festivities.

Hopeful on this title.

SECRET SIX #12
A crisis of conscience splits the Secret Six right down the middle and puts them on opposite sides of a horrific war involving Amazons led by a deluded Artemis! But that's just the opening bout for the main event: Jeannette vs. Wonder Woman!

Sounds fun, as always.

TITANS #16
Why has Starfire been acting odd the past few issues? Turns out the warrior woman has major rage issues coming out of her recent breakup with Dick Grayson, the events of FINAL CRISIS and more. Her super-powerful emotions could very well rip the team apart!

I thought Dick and Starfire technically broke up some time ago? Like, long before this series?

WONDER WOMAN #35
“Birds of Paradise” part 2 of 2! A gaggle of super-powered cage fighters find themselves in the worst possible place to be – on the bad side of Wonder Woman and Black Canary! Also, find out the final resolution between Diana and Nemesis along with much, much more!

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA SERIES 2 ACTION FIGURES

Four second-generation Justice Society of America heroes are grouped together to make up the second series of action figures based on the art of Alex Ross!

Just as Geoff Johns’ “Thy Kingdom Come” story arc has brought the Kingdom Come Superman into current continuity, this series of action figures also features a fully articulated, original sculpt of the character.

Figures included:
Cyclone • 8.25” h
Stargirl • 6.5” h

Eeee! Cyclone and Stargirl action figures! Eeeee!

As in, Must Have These Items.

A moment of weakness

2009-05-19T00:05:00.000-04:00

I'm thinking of picking up Fantastic Four again! (Or at least getting the trades.) Quick, someone tell me why that's a bad idea! (Or, you know, why it's a good idea, if you feel like being an enabler... :))

As we enter the home stretch

2009-05-18T00:05:00.001-04:00

I read the preview of Trinity 51.

Very big, very cosmic.

Not a fan of big or cosmic, particularly. Perhaps I won't have to get the trades, after all.

Really nice Wonder Woman cover, though. Seriously nice.

Why I buy

2009-05-17T00:05:00.001-04:00

There are two reasons I buy comic books.

One is because I want to see what happens because, well, I want to see what happens. I'm directly interested in a particular storyline. This category includes pretty much all of the ongoings I get.

The other is because I want to see how what happens affects other titles I follow more actively. This category includes crossover titles (for example, buying Thunderbolts because there's a shared storyline between that book and Deadpool), guest appearances (for example, picking up an issue of Wolverine because the Winter Soldier was in it), and more event titles than ought to be the case. There's a relatively short attention span associated with this category. I started getting Trinity for this reason but when it didn't become something I bought on its own merits, I dropped it.

Now what you probably want, if you're a comic book company, is to get me to buy a category-2 comic (that I only buy as long as it references something else) and convince me that it's a category-1 comic (that I'll buy on its own merits). In the old days this was how I added quite a few books--I only ever started reading Captain America and Iron Man because I enjoyed them in Avengers. These days it's not so common, although Dark Avengers is working on attaining that status.

My wallet, of course, is happier when this does not happen.

Nothing to see here, just keep moving along

2009-05-16T00:05:00.000-04:00

No blogging today, annoying children are annoying me.

Why can't they just read a comic book or something?

Angry cute overload

2009-05-15T00:05:00.002-04:00

Okay, this is the first I've heard of this (been reading GLC but not GL), but this may well be my favorite new Lanterny character and I want an action figure!

Hello Red Lantern Kitty!

Seriously, could this be more awesome? He's wearing the ring on his tail, for gosh sake!

And there was much rejoicing

2009-05-14T00:05:00.000-04:00

Whee! The preview is up for Cap 50! Looks good, looks REAL good!

Watching the Watchmen

2009-05-13T00:05:00.002-04:00

The husband brought home a DVD of Watchmen: the Complete Motion Comic. It's an odd thing. All the narration is done by a single actor, who thus takes all parts, male and female, which is sometimes confusing.

However, if you want to read Watchmen without actually reading Watchmen, this is probably the way to go.

Money doesn't grow on trees, you know

2009-05-12T00:05:00.002-04:00

I guess I'm late into the conversation on this subject, but I'm going to give Marvel Divas a try.

Because I have a fondness for some of the characters involved.

Not because it's anything like Sex in the City, a show I honestly never saw the appeal of.

It strikes me as the kind of thing you'd see in the second feature of an annual, not as the main focus of a comic, but we'll see.

Slow weekend

2009-05-11T00:05:00.001-04:00

There's an article up at Comic Book Resources about the teenage Tony Stark Iron Man cartoon. Which is actually a watchable show.

It's getting so you could build up a pretty decent superhero cartoon library if you wanted to!

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-10T00:05:00.002-04:00

There's an in-honor-of-Mother's-Day link up at Newsarama about the best and worst mothers in comic books.

I don't have a lot to say about the Best Mothers list. But the Worst?
Three of the mothers on the list--Catwoman, Black Canary, and the Scarlet Witch--are called bad mothers for reasons having nothing to do with their mothering skills. In fact, they're called bad mothers because--for a variety of reasons, none of which are any of their faults--they lost their children.

(And while the Alien Mom might not be our idea of a "good mom" but as far as her species goes she seems to have been exemplary! :))

And Martha Wayne? Seriously? Because she "never taught Bruce Wayne coping skills"? I think that young Bruce was probably better prepared than most kids his age would have been for dealing with seeing the violent death of both parents--at least he had Alfred, and didn't have to worry about money, living situation, and so forth. I really don't think you can blame Martha for not having long cozy talks with little Bruce about what do do "just in case Daddy and I are shot to death right in front of you."

Soon, soon...

2009-05-09T00:05:00.001-04:00

I think the new comic I'm most looking forward to is Power Girl.

I thought it would be one of the Bat-books, but there's still enough mystery around those that I don't know which I'll be keeping and which I'll be dropping.

But Power Girl? Everyone loves Power Girl. Everyone here, anyway!

Teen Tony

2009-05-08T00:05:00.003-04:00

I'm watching Iron Man: Armored Adventures at the moment. And you know...it's actually not bad.

I mean, considering it's sort of in the "Tiny Toons" tradition of taking adult characters and having them interact as younger versions of themselves.

There's Tony Stark, Rhodey, and Pepper, all teenagers going to the same school. In this universe, Rhodey knows about Tony and the Iron Man armor. Pepper doesn't, and is (apparently) the stereotypical annoying nosy female, which is less than optimal, but whatever.

So now I'm wondering whether it's worth looking at either of the Iron Man comics again. You know, in trade form. I always did like Iron Man and was kind of sad to quit it. Is it time to try again?

Thank goodness for comic books and their offshoots

2009-05-07T00:05:00.004-04:00

The ten-year-old is still home sick, but feeling well enough today to turn on the PS2 and play some Marvel Ultimate Alliance.

We've played so much Marvel Ultimate Alliance in this house. I hope the next one is as good.

The cartoon landscape is bleak

2009-05-06T00:05:00.001-04:00

Sick kid home today, so no real post.

Now's when I wish we had superhero cartoons on DVD. We don't. There's only so much "Fairly Oddparents" you can take, you know?

At least she's happy about it.

2009-05-05T00:05:00.003-04:00

There is a teaser up at DC about the new Batgirl title.

And there is the expected discussion about who this person might be.

Going by the picture, all I can say is...

...doesn't Power Girl have her own comic coming out already?

I'm just saying, that is a Mature Figure in that picture. :)

Another comic book movie I'm not particularly interested in seeing

2009-05-04T00:05:00.000-04:00

Wolverine.

Unless I hear there's a decent treatment of Deadpool, then I may reconsider.

Brainfreeze: Comic Love

I want it now. Apparently.

Where do I go to figure this stuff out?

My first foray into e-comics

Me and the Legion: An Exercise in Avoiding Fan Entitlement

Buying comics in real life, or trying to

Final (yeah right) reboot thoughts

How ever did I miss this?

How many DC books will I be getting come September?

I need to get a new bookcase to hold all my trades...

Comics are good

Deadpool dreams

Still love the Invaders

Another occasional update

Darn it all!

Action Figure Commentary: Stargirl and Cyclone

No such thing as too many Green Lanterns

So why is it?

It's alive! It's aliiiive!

I'm still here. Kind of.

I return to talk about action figures. Yep.

Where I've been

Lantern Love [Spoilers for GLC if you don't read previews]

A public service announcement

Coolness!

Arisia!

Legion costume thoughts

There's a waste of an afternoon.

Legion question (might have spoilers, not sure)

I see reading comics in my future

Question for the 90s-aware

I dream of comics again

I dream of comics

I definitely want.

Cartoons?

It's deja vu all over again!

Yeah, I'm old

More linkage

Linkage

Um...eek?

Question for the comic-storage knowledgable

Ah, so that's what they did

Bat-commentary - Red Robin 1

Bat-commentary - Batman 687

Bat-commentary - Streets of Gotham 1

Bat-commentary - Batman and Robin 1

Bat-commentary - Gotham City Sirens 1

Bat-commentary - Detective 854

Still reading, will post...soon.

Too busy!

Namor is my favorite!

I want this, but somehow I don't think it's meant for me

Captain America thoughts

More stuff to carry home.

No title today, I'm too tired to think!

I think it is official

Do not want

Here she is...

Wondering what I'll be buying a year from now

And never say maybe, because THIS happens.

Never say never, because THIS happens

Note to self

Obviously

Super-family values

In which I discover how typical I am

So who says comics aren't expensive?

Further grumbling about canceled comic books

How. Cool. Is this?

Astonishing reaction from Brainfreeze

My favorite comic--it really is that simple.

More Batwoman

Coolness!

Latest Iron Man cartoon

Why?

Waiting for the UPS man

It's a good time to be a Cap fan.

This is interesting

Just curious

Madam Masque

Maybe a last thought on BftC